Refrigeration



v Oct. 25, 1938. E. SCHELLENS ET AL 2,134,149 7 REFRIGERATION Filed Aug.13, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l 1 m k .J

H llllllllw w. EEEEE i INVENTORS rZf-A Tro R EY'.

Oct. 25, .1938. \E. L. SCHELLENS ET AL 2,134,149

I REFRIGERATION Filed Aug. 13 1935 6 Shets-Sheet 2 1 Jf INVENTOR;

Oct. 25, 1938. E. L. SCIHEILLENSET AL ,1 9

REFRIGERATION Filed Aug. 13, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 25, 1938. E.SCHELLENS ET AL 2,134,149

REFRIGERAT ION Filed Aug. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR5 Oct. 25,1938. E. L. SCHELLENS ETYAI.

REFRIGERATION Filed Aug. 13; 19:55 a Sheets-Sheet e v I oi v I INVENTORQ BY J Patented PATENT OFFICE 2,134,145 I REFRIGERATION Eugene L.Schellens, Bidgewood, NJ J., and Williani I. Hamby, Great Neck, N. Y.,assignors to Servel, Inc., New York, N. 1.,

Delaware a corporation of Application Ame 13,1935, Serial'No. 35,924

12 Claims.- (or 62-89) grins invention relates to refrigerators and itis an object of the invention to provide a refrigerator of improvedappearance, operation, and utility.

as will appear upon consideration of the follow- 5 ing description inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifition andof which: I

Fig. .1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a refrigeratorembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view of an absorptionrefrigeration apparatus for the refrigerator;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 4 isa vertical. sectional view of the refrigerator;

V Fig. 5 is a sectional view takenon line 5-5 I in Fig. 4';

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line .6-8

0 in Figs. 4 and 7;

Fig. 'l is a section taken on line 'I'| in Fig. 6; Fig.8isasectiontakenonline8-8 inFig. 6: and Fig.6!) is a detail section taken on line 9.9

.80 Referring to Fig. 1, a refrigerator III has athermally insulatedstorage compartment ll accessibleby means of adoozr II. The outersurface of the door I2 is fiush with the outer surface of the front ofthe cabinet II and is hinged to the cab- I inet on one side -by means ofconcealed hinges. The door I2 is provided with a concealed latch on thefree side opposite the hinges. The latch is operated by means ofmechanism concealedwithin the door and including a disc It, or other 14suitable impact receiving member, which is reciprocable in a recess inthe outer surface of the door. A fuller explanation of the doorlatchsand operating mechanism may be had by reference to an applicationSerial No. 32,741 of Norman MBelGeddesL In Fig. 2 is shown more or lessdiagrammatically an absorption refrigeration system generally of thetype disclosed in Patent 1,809,384 to von Platen et al. i'lhe particularsystem shown jlInHg'. 2 comprises a generator H, a first conll flow ofvapor therefromto the condensing sec-- by air.

tions l6 and" by means including the analyzer 2|, an air-cooledrectifier 23 and a liquid cooled rectifier 24. The condenser sectionsl6. and 11 are provided with heat transfer fins for cooling The absorber9 is cooled by heat transfer to air through a fluid heat transfercircuit including a coil 25 arranged in thermal conductive.

relation with the absorber i9 and connected to an r and liquefies in thecondenser 26.

The refrigeration system contains a solution of refrigerant fluid suchas ammonia in an absorption liquid such as water. The'solution, forinstance, a thirty per cent solution of ammonia in water, may beintroduced into the system through a suitable charging lug (not shown)in the lower part of the absorber IS. A suitable inert pressureequalizing gas, such as hydrogen, is then introduced into the system ata pressure correspending to that in which ammonia condenses at a fairlyhigh room temperature as, for instance.

- 100 F. The generator 4 is suitably heated as,

for instance, by a gas burner 21 arranged so that the burner flame isprojected into a flue 28. Operation of the burner may be automaticallycontrolled by a thermostatically operated valve ii in the burner supplyline. The valve operating thermostat shown in Fig. 2 is of an expansiblefluid type and the sensitive bulb |5a is located adjacent the evaporatoriii.

In operation of the refrigeration system, ammonia vapor expelled fromsolution by heat in the generator I4 flows from the upper end of thegenerator stand-pipe 29 through a conduit -30 into the -analyzer 2|,where the vapor bubbles upwardly through enriched absorption liquid.From the analyzer 2|, ammonia vapor flows in conduit 3| through theair-cooled or high temperature rectifier 23 and the lower temperature orliquid cooled rectifier 24 to the first condenser section 6. Liquidammonia formed by condensatlon in the condenser section l6 flows througha conduit 32 into the rectifier 24 and thence overflowsthrough a conduit33 into theupper end of the coil pipe evaporator l8. Ammonia vapor whichmay not have been condensed in the first condenser section l6 passesthrough conduit 32, the upper part of the rectifier 24, anda conduit 34into the second condenser section 11. Liquid ammonia. formed bycondensation in the condenser section flows through conduit 35 andconduit 33 into the evaporator i8.

In the evaporator IS, the liquid ammonia flows downwardly, evaporatingand diffusing into hydrogen which enters the lower part of theevaporatorthrough a conduit 36. The resulting gas mixture flows from theupper end of the evaporator i8 through a conduit 31, the inner passagell of the gas heat exchanger 20, and conduit 39 into the absorber i8. Inthe absorber, ammonia I is absorbed out of the gas mixture into weakenedouterpassage 42 of the gas heat exchanger 20,.

, connected to a chamber 49 of the generator from absorption liquidwhich enters the upper part of the absorber through a conduit 40. Theweak gas flows from the absorber through a conduit 4|, the

action from the chamber 41 through a conduit 48' into the upper part ofthe generator stand-pipe 29. The lower end of the generator stand-pipe29 is which weakened absorption liquid flows through a conduit 50, theinner passage SI of the liquid heat exchanger 22, and the conduit 40into the upper part of the absorber Ill.

The lower end of the condenser section I! is connected by means of aconduit 52 to a vessel 53,

commonly referred to as a pressure vessel, which is connected by meansof a conduit 54 to the absorber l9. By means of this path of flow fromthe condenser'to the absorber, non-condensible hydrogen is conducted tothe gas circuit instead of becdmingtrapped after passage through thecondenser. The vessel 53 provides storage space for,

hydrogen which is displaced by uncondensed ammonia vapor and forced intothe gas circuit, thus raising the'total pressure in thesystem onincrease in air temperature beyond that for which the system wasinitially charged.

The manner in which the above described refrigeration apparatus isarranged and located in the refrigerator may be'seen in Figs. 4 -and 5and the succeeding detail figures. the same parts of the apparatus arenumbered the same as in Fig. 2. The generator I4, analyzer 2|, andliquid heat exchanger 22 are encased inthermal insulation material 55,indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2 and in solid outline in Figs. 4and 5. The refrigerator I0, in addition to the thermally insulatedstorage compartment H, is

- provided with anapparatus compartment having 1 tion 51 in the rear ofthe refrigerator.

a horizontal portion 58 in the lower-part of the refrigerator, anda-communicating upright por- Additionally, the upper part of therefrigerator is formed to provide two horizontal compartments 5! and 59along the top side edges of the refrigerator and extending forwardlyfrom the upper end of the rear compartment 51. The outer casing oftherefrigerator is constructed to provide a linear opening 60 extendinghorizontally aroundthe upper part of the refrigerator on the two sidesand the rear, and at the bottom of the upper compartments 58 and 59.

As may be seen in Fig. 3, the top of the refrigerator is provided with agenerally U-shaped or horseshoe'shaped linear opening GI. The sides orlegs of the opening 6| overlie the compartments 58 and 59, andthe crossportion of the top opening 6| overlies the upper end of the rearapparatus compartment 51. It will now be understood that air may enterthe side opening 60 and In these figures,

- flow upwardly through compartments II and I.

and the upper part of compartment II, leaving the top of thesecompartments through the opening 6|. The first condenser section II islocated generally horizontally in the top compartment I. and arrangedtherein at an angle so that its heat transfer fins extend across thepath of air flow upwardly through the compartment is. The condensersection l1 is'generally L-shaped, having two portions Ila and Nbgenerally perpendicular to each other. The portion Ila. is located inthe upper end of the rear apparatus compartment chamber 51, and theportion "b is arranged similarly to the first condenser section I6, butin the 4 top compartment 58 on the opposite side of the refrigeratorfrom the condenser section It in the top compartment 59. It will now beunderstood that air entering the side opening flows upwardly in thermalcontact with the condenser sections l6 and I1 and then out through thetop air outlet opening 6|. It will be vseen that the condenser,comprising sections IB and I1, is generally. U-shaped or horseshoeshaped.

Referring now moreparticularly to Figs. 4 and 6 to 9, the refrigeratorstorage compartment II is outlined by what is usually referred to as aliner 62, enclosed by thermal insulationmaterial 02. The liner 62 isgenerally rectangular, andmay be formed of sheet metal which isporcelained on the interior to provide sanitary walls for the storagecompartment. The upper parts of the side walls formed by the liner 82are inclined slightly inwardly. This angular structure of the storagecompartment at the top of the refrigerator permits of the previouslydescribed condenser compartments I8 and 59 in the outer side edges.

at the top of the refrigerator and within the generally rectangularcontour of the refrigerator.

porcelained on its outer surface and presents the same appearance andcleanliness as the interior ofthe storage compartment formed by theliner 62.

The cooling element or evaporator coil ll is located in the upper partof the refrigerator storage compartment II and behind the shield plate64, which conceals the cooling element from view.

The lower part of the evaporator coil II is located horizontallybetween, and in contact with. two generally similar receptacles l1 and".The receptacle 6| may be provided with a partition or I shelf 69. -Thereceptacles i1 and are open at ll their forward ends and-in alignmentwith the openings and 86. in the shield plate 04. It will now beunderstood that thereceptacles C1 and 68 form freezing compartments andare for the purpose of receiving ice freezing trays or the like. Thefront ends of these trays may be seen in Fig. 1. Two ordinary-size traysI. and II may be placed in the receptacle II which is provided with theintermediate partition or shelf 0 and a dot:- bl'e size tray 12 forfrozen desserts or the like may be placed in the left hand receptacle.1.

Around the outside of each of the receptacles 61 and I8 and in spacedrelation thereto are placed metal casings I3 and 14. A larger upper loopno of the evaporator coil is located within the casings 13 and I4 and inthermal contact therewith. The top surfaces of the casings I! and 14 aresloped downwardly toward the opening 15 in the middle of the lower partof the evaporator coil l8. These sloping surfaces are 76 corrugated toform heat transfer surfaces 16 and 11; An annular casing or sleeve 18'is placed inside of the boil it. An annular member 19 provides a troughdirectly beneath the.

also with the annular casing or sleeve 18 on" the inside of the coil 18.The outer casings I3 and 14, provided with the heat transfer flns 16 andH, are in thermal contact with the upper turn llb of the cooling coil,which is at a higher temperature than the lower part. The reason forthis is'that hydrogen flows upwardly through the cooling coil l8, andthe partial pressure of ammonia is greater in the upper part 'of'thecoil than in the lower part of the coil, wherefore the ammoniaevaporates at a higher temperature in i t thermally insulated top,bottom, and-side walls 2 the upper part of the coil.

It will be understoodthat the cooling element structure just describedmay be mounted on a removable insulated wall section or closure member8| which fits into a window or opening in the rear wall of the thermallyinsulated storage com partment II, as may be seen in Figs-4 and 9.

. Thus, the cooling element may be removably assembled and disassembledas a unit with the refrigeration apparatus, the cooling element be,- inginserted and withdrawn through the wall opening into which the closuremember 8| fits when the apparatus isassembled in the refrigerator.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the direction of air.

flow in the storage compartment II is indicated by arrows. Air flowsupwardly at each side of the refrigerator compartment, up behind theshield plate 64. across the upper part of the casings J3 and 14 incontact with the fins 16 and 11,.- and thence downwardly through theopening I5 in the center of the lower part of the cooling coil ll. Airis caused to flow in this direction for the reason that the sleeve 18 onthe inside of the cooling coil I8 is at a lower temperature than theother cooling surfaces of the cooling element contacted by the air,wherefore air moves downwardly'within the sleeve 18.

When frost is melted from the cooling element, the drip is collected inthe trough l9 and discharged in the rear of the storage compartment IIby way of the spout 80, into any suitable vessel placed beneath thespout.

Referring to Fig. 9, a suitable lamp 8!, such as an electric light bulbconnected, as known, to

be lighted when the door i2 is open, is located in thej'top of thestorage compartment ll, be-

hind the shield plate 64, and above the central opening I! in the centerof the cooling coil la.

.The light is directed downwardly through the central opening 15 intothe refrigerator storage compartment therebelow, whereby light isavailable while its source is concealed.

The other parts of the refrigeration apparatus are located in theapparatus compartments 56 and 51, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Thehorizontal portion of the generator I and the liquid The spaces betweenthe receptacles 61 and It will be under-:' stood that the lower part ofthe cooling coil I8 is in thermal contact with the receptacles 61 and 88forming the freezing compartments and .parts 'of said side walls.

forming .a food storage compartment which is element inthe reducedportion of said compartreceives air for combustion through louvres 8!.The other parts of the apparatus are arranged in the rear upright:apparatus compartment 51. The gas heat exchanger 20 is preferably.

partment wall. The rear wall-of the refrigera-. tor I0 is provided withan openingor latticework directly opposite the absorber coolingcondenser 26. Air flows through the latticework 85,-.upwardly' over thecondenser-.16, upwardly 10 throughthe upper part of the apparatus com-.-partment 51, and out. through the opening 61 in the top ofthe'refrigerator. This upward -'flow I I forming a food storagecompartment and adoor affording access to said compartment, upper partsof said side wallsbeing sloped inward on several sides of the cabinetforming a reduced refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element insaid compartment and condenser parts located laterally on several/ sideswith respect to said cooling element and in the spaces outside of saidinward sloping wall parts substantially within the upward projectedareas of the lower 2.A refrigerator including a c abi net havingthermally insulated top'; bottom and side .walls substantiallyrectangular in horizontal section and a door affording access tosaidcompartment. the upper parts of said side walls adjoining thewall whichincludes said door being slopedinward to form a narrowed upper portionofthe' recessed in the insulation 63 of the storage com- '5 upperportion of the fo odfcompartment, and

food compartment, and a' refrigeration apparatus including a coolingelement in said compartment and condenser parts located laterally withrespect to said cooling element and in the spaces outside of said inwardsloping wall parts substantially within the upward projected area of thelower parts of said side walls. 3. A refrigerator including a cabinethaving thermally insulated top, bottom and side walls forming a foodstorage compartment which is substantially rectangular in horizontalsection and open on one side and a door for closing said open side, the.upper parts of said side walls adjoining the open side of saidcompartment being sloped inward to. provide a reduced upper portion ofthe food compartment, said door being sub-' stantiaily rectangular andoverlapping said reduced upper portion of the food compartment. andrefrigeration apparatus including a cooling ment and condenser partslocated laterally with respect to .said cooling element and in thespaces outside of said inward sloping wall parts substantially withinthe upward. projected area of the lower parts of said side walls.

'4. A refrigerator as set forth in claim 3 in which a plate ofsubstantially the same width as the lower part of. said storagecompartrrient conceals the reduced upper portion .of said coni- 75.

partment when viewed horizontally through said open side.

5. A refrigerator as set forth in'claim 1 in which a casing encloses andfits around said in- 'sulated walla-said casing having substantiallyvertical sides and having openings therein located at the bottom and topof said condenser spaces.

6. A refrigerator including a cabinet having insulated walls enclosing afood compartment, an

evaporator in the upper part of said food compartment, s'aid cabinetincluding vertical wall parts below said evaporator, a cabinet wall partabove said evaporator-being horizontal, and cabinet wall parts laterallyof said evaporator being oblique to and connecting the vertical andhorizontal wall parts providing-lateral spaces, casing parts boundingsaid lateral spaces and providing elongated apertures at the bottoms andtops of the lateral spaces, members completing with said evaporator afreezing system of the type employing inert gas, said freezing systemincluding condenserparts in said lateral spaces arranged to be cooled byair passing through said apertures,

and said freezing system including means to flow refrigerant from the;condenser parts to the evaporator by-.;,-gravi ty, 'the upper part ofthe evaporator and the lower part of the condenser v,

being at substantially the same elevation.

'7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in-which the casing parts boundingthe lateral spaces have. horizontal and vertical outer surfaces inalignment respectively with verticaland horizontal ing a substantiallyrectangular cover plate at the front of the evaporator in partoverlapping the oblique insulated wall parts and a door also in partoverlapping the oblique insulated wall parts.

' 10. A refrigerator as set forth in claim 6 hava ing the lateral spacesat both sides and having casing members at both sides and rear providingnu-shaped elongated lower and upper apertures.

11. A refrigerator including a food storage compartment formed bythermally insulated top, 10

bottom and'side walls, upper parts of said side walls being slopedinward so that there is in the upper part or said compartment a spacehaving reduced cross sectional area and spaces outside.

of the insulated walls on several sides of the,"

refrigerator to receive condenser parts. and acooling element in saidfood storage compartment. said cooling element being formed and'arrangedto occupy substantially the entirespace of reduced area in the upperpart of the food com- ,afl

partment so that there-is no unuseable storage space in the foodcompartment and no storage space affected in area by the inward slopedparts of the side walls.

12. A refrigerator set forth in claim 11 in is which the food storagecompartment is substanj tially rectangular in horizontal section and isprovided with a substantially rectangular door opening in one side whichis not sloped'in at the top, a substantially rectangular door forclosing ,89

said opening, said door overlapping the reduced upper part of saidcompartment, and a substantially rectangular plate adjacent the dooropening and concealing said cooling element and the reduced upper partof the storage compartment. es

EUGENE .L. SCHELLENS. WILLIAM I. HAMBY.

